Illegal workers identified at egg packer

Two men have been deported, two jailed and a fifth man detained after being found by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) to be working illegally at an egg-packing facility in Somerset.

The two Indian men, aged 20 and 48, were returned to their home country after being arrested at Landshire Country Foods, Landshire Lane, Henstridge, on 8 November, 2012.

The 20-year-old had been working in breach of the conditions of his student visa, while the 48-year-old’s visa had expired.

Two more Indian men – Jagtar Singh, 39, and Charanjit Singh, 45 – were each sentenced to six months in prison after being convicted of offences under the ID Cards Act at Dorchester Crown Court on 16 November.

A UKBA spokesman said it would work to remove them from the country when their sentences were served.

A fifth Indian man, aged 24, remains in immigration detention, pending his removal from the UK.

It is understood that the UKBA has issued a £5,000 civil penalty fine to the employer in relation to one of the men implicated. A spokesperson said that the correct checks had been undertaken with the other four men.

Paul Croker of Landshire Country Foods said that, as far as he was aware, the firm had done everything correctly, and was “working closely with the UK Border Agency to find a resolution”.